Ferrule setter with indicating means

ABSTRACT

A tool for swaging ferrules onto the periphery of a cylindrical member such as a tube or rod. The disclosed tool includes a frame for supporting and aligning the tube or rod with swaging means. The swaging means is shown as a ferrule camming member reciprocable with respect to the frame. Independently actuated signal means is adapted to indicate when adequate swaging has been accomplished.

United States Patent Spontelli 1 Mar, 27, 1973 FERRULE SETTER WITH INDICATING 2,670,626 3/1954 Hall ..29 407 x MEANS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] Inventor: Leonard P. Spontelli, Seven I-hlls,

Ohio 732,810 4/1966 Canada ..29 237 [73] Assignee: Crawford Fitting Company, Solon, Pn-mwy Examiner Roben Riordon Ohm Assistant Examiner-J. C. Peters 22 Filed: Apr. 15, 1971 Attorney-Fay, Sharpe and Mulholland [21] Appl. N0; 134,155 57 ABSTRACT A tool for swaging ferrules onto the periphery of a [52] US. Cl. ..29/237, 29/407, 72/31 cylindrical member such as a tube of rod The [51] [1.1L CI. ..B23p 19/04 closed tool includes a frame for pp g and g [58] Fleld of Search 407; 35, g the tube or rod g g means. The g g means is shown as a ferrule camming member [56] References cued reciprocable with respect to the frame. Independently UNITED STATES PATENTS actuated signa l means is adapted to indicate when adequate swagmg has been accomphshed. 199,350 1/1878 Caswell ..72/35 2,377,829 6/1945 Vaill ..29/237 X 16 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARZYIUYS 7 2,054

SHEET 10F 3 INVENTOR. LEONARD .SPONTELL/ A TTORNEYS FERRULE SETTER WITH INDICATING MEANS The subject invention is directed toward the couping art and, more particularly, to an improved apparatus for swaging ferrules to the outer surface of elongated cylindrical members.

The invention is especially suited for use in swaging ferrules of tube fittings and will be described with particular reference thereto; however, as will become apparent, the invention is capable of broader application and could be used for attaching ferrules to many types of cylindrical members.

In swage-type tube fittings, the grip of a swaged ferrule on the periphery of the tube is critical to the proper functioning of the fitting. Typically, the nose portion of the ferrule must be forced radially inward to achieve a good grip on the tube but without extensive tube deformation. Currently, the ferrules are generally swaged by a manual operation. This involves tightening a nut on the body of the fitting which forces the nose portion of an encompassed ferrule against a camming mouth in the body of the fitting. The nose portion of the ferrule is thus deformed radially inward by the camming mouth into fluid tight sealing and gripping engagement with the periphery of the tube.

With large size tubes, or tubes formed of very hard material, it is extremely difficult to get the necessary swaging torque by a manual operation. Accordingly, power actuated swaging devices have been proposed. One such device uses a hydraulically actuated die block and cam arrangement to perform the swaging operation.

As can be appreciated, the positioning of the ferrules and amount of swaging are especially important to a satisfactory joint. With the hydraulically actuated device mentioned, it was not possible to determine when the ferrule had been properly swaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention overcomes the problems of the prior art and provides a hydraulically actuated ferrule setter which may be used by a workman in the field and requires a minimum of manual effort. In accordance with the invention, it is contemplated that the invention will include a frame carrying a hydraulically actuated piston and an anvil member having an associated camming mouth and a recess for receiving the end of the tube. Means are provided for aligning the tube and the ferrule mounted thereon with the anvil recess and restraining the ferrule against the applied load. Additionally, measuring means are provided to measure the relative axial movement of the piston with respect to the frame for the purpose of signaling that the ferrule has been adequately swaged.

It is important to note that measuring the relative axial movement between the frame and the piston is an accurate way of ascertaining when the ferrule has been adequately swaged. Hydraulic pressures within the housing are not a proper measure of swaging because misalignment of the tool elements and built-in friction can vary from one piston-frame combination and one nut-tube combination to another. Also, fittings themselves vary as to material, etc. so that different pressures are required. Thus, to be uniform, one must rely on relative axial movement rather than the pressure within the housing to indicate proper swaging.

In accordance with a more limited aspect of the invention, it is contemplated that the measuring means will include an indicator arranged to move from a first to a second position to indicate the completion of a swaging operation. Preferably, movement from the first to the second position produces both an audible and visual indication. This allows the apparatus to be used in low levels of illumination, such as the dark areas of a factory building. Additionally, the sense of feel alone can be used to check when adequate swaging has been accomplished. Note that merely by feeling the indicator, the operator can tell when it has been moved from the first to the second positions. This allows the device to be used in areas of high noise and low illumination.

Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is the provision of a power actuated ferrule setter having means for providing a positive indication of the completion of a swaging operation.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus of the type described which gives an audible indication upon completion of the swaging operation.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a hydraulically actuated ferrule setter which is simple to use and reliable in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the ferrule swaging device of this invention, shown partially in section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of FIG. 1 showing the orientation of the spring and signal arm;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially in section, of a modified form of the latching and signal means for the device of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partially in section, of a modified fluid feeding connection for the device of FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the overall arrangement of a preferred form of power actuated ferrule setting apparatus formed in accordance with the invention. While it is to be appreciated that the device could be used for setting or swaging ferrules on many types of elongated cylindrical members, it is shown in the drawings as being used for swaging ferrules upon the outer peripheral surface of a pipe or tube 10. As shown, the setter includes a body 12 into which the tube 10 projects. Both FIGS. 1 and 2 show two ferrules l4 and 16, however, it is to be understood that the device is adapted to be used with a single ferrule as well as multiple ones.

Although the device could have a variety of different constructions, in the embodiment under consideration, the body 12 includes a flanged sleeve member 18 which is threaded at 20 into a coaxially aligned cylinder 22. Carried within the cylinder 22 and arranged for reciprocation therein, is a piston 24. A suitable packing or piston ring means 26 is carried about the periphery of the piston 24 to provide a seal with the internal wall of the cylinder 22.

Carried at the left-hand end of the piston 24 (as viewed in FIG. 1) is an anvil-like member 28. In the embodiment shown, the anvil member 28 is drivingly connected with the piston by being mounted on projection 32 formed on piston 24. A snap ring 34 releasably connects the anvil member to the piston. Extending inwardly from the left end of anvil 28 is a recess 30. The recess is sized so as to closely receive the end of the tube and align it with the body 12.

As can be appreciated, the anvil member 28 is closely and slidably received within the sleeve 18 to maintain the anvil aligned with the piston 24. Positioned about the recess 30 is an inclined camming surface 36 which, in the preferred construction, is integrally formed on the anvil 28. The camming surface 36 forms a camming mouth which functions to cam the forward nose portion 37 of the ferrule 16 inwardly into tight sealing and gripping engagement with the periphery of the tube 10 in a manner hereafter to be described.

In the embodiment shown, the apparatus is used for preswaging the ferrule of a standard tube fitting. As shown, the nut member 38 is the female body portion of a tube fitting and has an internal threaded opening 40 which surrounds the tube and the ferrules l4 and 16. In the subject device, the nut or female body portion 38 is utilized to assist in the swaging operation. As can be seen, the sleeve 18 has an outer end portion 41 which is sized so as to be threadedly received within the opening 40. As can be understood, by producing relative movement toward one another of the nut 38 and the anvil 28, the required swaging of the ferrules l4 and 16 into engagement with the outer surface of the tube 10 is accomplished.

Many different power arrangements could be utilized for producing the required relative movement; however, according to the embodiment under consideration, it is preferable to use a hydraulic power cylinder arrangement. Specifically, the piston 24 is driven to the left relative to the cylinder 22 by hydraulic pressure supplied from a conventional hand operated hydraulic pump 42. The pump 42 is connected in fluid communication with the interior of the cylinder 22 through a flexible conduit 44 and a passage 45 which extends through the body 12. Alternately, the pump can be connected through a passage 46 extending through the piston rod 48, as shown in FIG. 4. Suitable packing means 50 in a rear cylinder opening 52 seals around the extension 48 and together with the packing means 26 and 50, seal both ends of the cylinder cavity 54. In the embodiment shown, the piston 24 is normally biased to the right (as viewed in FIG. 1) by a spring 56 positioned about the extension 48. The left end of the spring abuts a shoulder 58 formed by a counterbore 60, whereas, the right end abuts the inner end of a dial gauge member 62 which is adjustably connected to the extension 48 by threads 64.

Of particular importance to the invention is the signaling or indicating arrangement which provides both a visual and an audible signal when the proper amount of relative movement has taken place between the female member and the camming mouth 36. The specific details of the indicating means could take a variety of particular forms; however, in the preferred embodiment, it includes a signal or lever arm 66 which is mounted for pivotal movement on the pin 68 which extends between the legs 70 of a bifurcated bracket. The bracket is preferably fixedly connected to the body 12. The signal arm 60 is arranged for pivotal movement between the solid and dotted line positions shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, means are provided to maintain the arm under a continual counter-clockwise bias (as shown in FIG. 1). Although the biasing means could take many forms, it preferably comprises a coil spring 72 which extends about the pin 68 and has opposite end portions engaged with the body 22 and the signal arm 66. It will be noted that the signal arm 66 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 69 in which the spring is received.

Latching means are provided for holding the signal arm 66 in the solid line position. The latching means is shown as including a groove 74 formed in one face of the dial gauge member 62. A flange or outwardly extending portion 77 borders the outer edge of the groove 74. Projecting inwardly from the outermost end portion of the signal arm 66 is a short protuberance 76 which is received under the flange 77 and functions to maintain the arm 66 in the solid line position.

In operation, the nut or female body portion 38 is mounted on the tube 10 followed by the ferrules 14 and 16. The tube end is then inserted into the cavity 30 of the anvil-like member 28. Thereafter, the nut is hand tightened onto the threads 40 of the sleeve member 18. At this time, fluid is supplied to the cylinder 22 by the pump 42 until the operator feels by hand that he can no longer rotate the tube 10. This relatively rigid stage of the operation signals the beginning of the measured swaging cycle.

Before beginning the measured swaging operation, the dial gauge 62 is tightened into the counterbore until the protuberance 76 on the lever arm 66 can pass freely down past the flange into the groove 74. Thereafter, the dial gauge 62 is retracted until the protuberance bottoms in the groove 74. The flange 77 then holds the arm 66 against the bias of the spring 72.

The measured swaging operation can thereafter begin by supplying additional hydraulic fluid to drive the piston 24 and anvil-like member 28 toward the ferrules 14 and 16 to cause the camming mouth 36 to engage the nose 37 of the front ferrule 16 and swage it radially inward against the tube 10.

It is to be' appreciated that the groove 74 is precisely cut to a particular depth which is equal to the needed relative axial movement between the camming surface 36 and the female body member 38. This distance is predetermined to provide the desired swaging of the ferrules 14 and 16 onto the tube 10. In operation, piston moves from right to left relative to the signal arm 66. This movement, of course, also moves the dial gauge 62 an equal amount. At such time as the piston has moved the desired measured distance to the left (equal to the depth of groove 74) it will release the protuberance from the groove 74 and the signal arm will swing upwardly to the dotted line position producing both a visual and substantial audible signal indicating that the desired amount of swaging has been performed.

Thereafter, the operator can release the pressure in the cylinder such as by releasing the appropriate valving on the hydraulic pump 42, loosen the nut member 38 from the sleeve 18 and disengage the assembly from the tube.

As is apparent, the measured distance needed to cause adequate swaging could be gauged by the relative movement between other parts of the assembly. Additionally, the length of the measured travel could be controlled other than by the depth of the groove 74. For example, the groove could be extremely deep and the protuberance of a length equal to the desired swaging distance. In this case, the flange portion 77 would abut the landing 79 on the lever arm 66 at the beginning of a swaging cycle. The length of protuberance would thus determine the length of relative movement between the female body member 38 and the cam surface 36.

FIG. 3 differs from FIG. 1 in that the extension 48 is a separate piece which is threaded at 78 into the piston 24. A coil spring 56 is located exteriorly of the cylinder 22 and extends between the outer face of the dial gauge 62 and the bifurcated bracket 80 fixed to one end of the extension 48. No detailed explanation of the operation of FIG. 3 appears necessary as the lever arm on the dial gauge are merely shown reversed in their relative axial movements.

The invention has been described in great detail sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the same. Obviously, modifications and alterations of the preferred embodiment will occur to others by a reading and understanding of the specification and it is my intention to include all such modifications and alterations as part of my invention insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.

And thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for swaging a ferrule onto the periphery of a cylindrical member comprising:

a piston mounted for reciprocation within a body;

an anvil member drivingly connected to said piston and having a recess in one end to receive the end of the cylindrical member;

camming means associated with said anvil member for camming a ferrule carried on the end of the cylindrical member into tight peripheral engagement therewith; and, gauge means associated with said camming means for measuring the movement of the camming means relative to the body, said gauge means including means comprising a signal member and biasing means for moving said signal member from a first to a second position, and means for holding said signal member in said first position until a predetermined amount of relative movement has taken place between said camming means and said body at which time said signal member is caused to move suddenly to said second position under the action of said biasing means to provide a usual and audible indication. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the gauge means further includes a dial and wherein said signal member comprises an outwardly biased signal arm,

one of said arm or dial being mounted on a piston extension and the other being mounted on said body,

said means for holding comprising latch means between said arm and dial for releasing the arm to move outwardly upon movement of said piston through a measured distance.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the dial is threaded to said piston extension and said signal arm is mounted on said body.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the signal arm is supported on a pin mounting connected to said body which includes a spring for biasing the arm outwardly of the body.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the latch means comprises an annular groove in one radial face of said dial and a protuberance on said arm for projecting into said groove to hold said arm stationary against the outward bias.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein the latch means comprises an annular groove in one radial face of said dial and a protuberance on said arm for projecting into said groove to hold said arm stationary against the outward bias.

7. A tool including means for swaging a ferrule onto the periphery of a cylindrical member,

frame means for supporting and aligning said cylindrical member with said swaging means,

said swaging means being reciprocable with respect to said frame means, and

independently actuated signal means for indicating adequate swaging of said ferrule in response to a gauged relative movement between said frame means and said swaging means, said signal means including a lever arm biased to swing away from a latching means upon adequate swaging of said ferrule.

8. The tool of claim 7 wherein said latching means includes a protuberance projecting from said lever arm into a groove which recedes from said protuberance with increasing swaging by said swaging means. i

9. The tool of claim 8 including a dial, said groove being disposed in said dial.

10. The tool of claim 9 wherein the length of said protuberance is substantially equal to the length of the relative movement between said frame means and said swaging means to cause adequate swaging.

11. The tool of claim 9 wherein the depth of said groove is substantially equal to the length of relative movement between said frame means and said swaging means to cause adequate swaging.

12. The tool of claim 7 wherein said signal means further comprises a dial;

said dial including a groove,

said lever arm including a protuberance projecting into said groove to latch said arm and dial together and bias means for urging them apart,

one of said dial or arm being fixed to said frame means and the other being fixed to said swaging means.

13. The tool of claim 12 wherein the dial is fixed to the swaging means.

14. The tool of claim 13 wherein the length of the said protuberance is substantially equal to the length of the relative movement between said frame means and said swaging means to cause adequate swaging.

15. The tool of claim 12 wherein the dial is fixed to the frame means.

16. The tool of claim 15 wherein the length of the said protuberance is substantially equal to the length of the relative movement between said frame means and said swaging means to cause adequate swaging. 

1. A device for swaging a ferrule onto the periphery of a cylindrical member comprising: a piston mounted for reciprocation within a body; an anvil member drivingly connected to said piston and having a recess in one end to receive the end of the cylindrical member; camming means associated with said anvil member for camming a ferrule carried on the end of the cylindrical member into tight peripheral engagement therewith; and, gauge means associated with said camming means For measuring the movement of the camming means relative to the body, said gauge means including means comprising a signal member and biasing means for moving said signal member from a first to a second position, and means for holding said signal member in said first position until a predetermined amount of relative movement has taken place between said camming means and said body at which time said signal member is caused to move suddenly to said second position under the action of said biasing means to provide a usual and audible indication.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the gauge means further includes a dial and wherein said signal member comprises an outwardly biased signal arm, one of said arm or dial being mounted on a piston extension and the other being mounted on said body, said means for holding comprising latch means between said arm and dial for releasing the arm to move outwardly upon movement of said piston through a measured distance.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the dial is threaded to said piston extension and said signal arm is mounted on said body.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the signal arm is supported on a pin mounting connected to said body which includes a spring for biasing the arm outwardly of the body.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein the latch means comprises an annular groove in one radial face of said dial and a protuberance on said arm for projecting into said groove to hold said arm stationary against the outward bias.
 6. The device of claim 2 wherein the latch means comprises an annular groove in one radial face of said dial and a protuberance on said arm for projecting into said groove to hold said arm stationary against the outward bias.
 7. A tool including means for swaging a ferrule onto the periphery of a cylindrical member, frame means for supporting and aligning said cylindrical member with said swaging means, said swaging means being reciprocable with respect to said frame means, and independently actuated signal means for indicating adequate swaging of said ferrule in response to a gauged relative movement between said frame means and said swaging means, said signal means including a lever arm biased to swing away from a latching means upon adequate swaging of said ferrule.
 8. The tool of claim 7 wherein said latching means includes a protuberance projecting from said lever arm into a groove which recedes from said protuberance with increasing swaging by said swaging means.
 9. The tool of claim 8 including a dial, said groove being disposed in said dial.
 10. The tool of claim 9 wherein the length of said protuberance is substantially equal to the length of the relative movement between said frame means and said swaging means to cause adequate swaging.
 11. The tool of claim 9 wherein the depth of said groove is substantially equal to the length of relative movement between said frame means and said swaging means to cause adequate swaging.
 12. The tool of claim 7 wherein said signal means further comprises a dial, said dial including a groove, said lever arm including a protuberance projecting into said groove to latch said arm and dial together and bias means for urging them apart, one of said dial or arm being fixed to said frame means and the other being fixed to said swaging means.
 13. The tool of claim 12 wherein the dial is fixed to the swaging means.
 14. The tool of claim 13 wherein the length of the said protuberance is substantially equal to the length of the relative movement between said frame means and said swaging means to cause adequate swaging.
 15. The tool of claim 12 wherein the dial is fixed to the frame means.
 16. The tool of claim 15 wherein the length of the said protuberance is substantially equal to the length of the relative movement between said frame means and said swaging means to cause adequate swaging. 